BISON CHARGE OVER EXPRESS IN SECOND HALF

(Aurora, N.Y.)─ The Gallaudet women's basketball team opened the second half on a 15-4 run and never looked as the Bison went on to defeat the Wells College Express 81-62 in North Eastern Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon in Aurora. The Bison led at the half 41-35 and would extend their lead to as many as 21 in the second half. The loss drops the Express to 1-6 (1-4 NEAC), while the Bison remain undefeated at 5-0 (2-0 NEAC).
 
Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y./Camden) finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds and Kristen Ryan (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ladden) added 12 points, four rebounds, and five assist to pace the Express. Also chipping for the Express were Brittany Stanton (Deposit, N.Y./Deposit) with nine points and four assist, Rachel Mattraw (Chaumont, N.Y./Lyme Central) with eight points, and Ashley Mercure (Granville, N.Y./Hartford) with six points.
 
Shaquana McDonough (Pembroke, Mass.) led the Bison with a game high 24 points on 10 of 16 shooting. Easter Faafiti (Pittsburg, Calif.) added 14 points and tied with Nukeitra Hayes (Anderson, Ind.) for the team high in rebounds with eight. Hayes also had 12 points for the Bison.
 
Wells shot an impressive 50 percent from the floor, including 61.9 percent in the first half, while Gallaudet shot just 41.7 percent for the game. The Express also held the advantage in rebounds 38-36 but turnovers would be a key to the game as Gallaudet would commit just 10 turnovers to the Express 31.
 
The Bison came out firing in the first half, opening up a 25-7 lead with 11:29 to play. The Express began to turn things around mid-way through, Stanton hit two 3-pointers and Roser scored 11 points as Wells went on a 24-9 run, trimming the lead to three, 34-31. The two teams traded shots from there with the Bison holding a slim 41-35 lead heading into halftime.
 
It was all Gallaudet in the second half. Faafiti scored 12 of her 14 points in the half as the Bison outscored the Express 40-27. The halftime margin would be as close the Express would come to the Bison the rest of the way.
 
Wells will look to bounce back tomorrow against NEAC opponent Penn. St. Harrisburg at 1 p.m. in Aurora.